We studied the immunohistochemical expression and localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the graft of non-pathological human ovary following xenogenic transplantation into a non-obese diabetic severe combined immune deficient (NOD-SCID) mice. Human follicles following xenotransplantation into NOD-SCID mice were studied by immunohistochemistry antibodies against steroidgenic enzymes. In the pre antral follicles of these grafts, steroidogenic enzymes, p450 scc,p450 c17 and 3β-HSD were present in only the the theca cell layer, observations which are consistent with the findings of non-pathological human ovarian cortex. Cytochrome p450 aromatase and estrogen receptor, however, were not detected in these grafts, and these follicles did not possess specific feature of a dominant follicle. These findings suggest that the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in humnan follicles following xenogenic transplantation into NOD-SCID mice. is similar to that of non-pathological human ovaries. Howeve
… Morer, these follicles do not possess features of dominant follicles. which are known to develop into the corpus luteum. Furthermore, we succeed the successful generation of mature human graafian follicles following xenotransplantation of a human ovarian cortex into a NOD/SCID/g cnull mouse. Ten weeks after transplantation, we stimulated the ovary tissue through daily intraperitoneal injections of human menopausal gonadotropin for 14 days. Ovarian grafts were removed from recipient mice twelve weeks after transplantation. In 2 out of 8 transplanted mice. human graafian follicles l6-18 mm in diameter were obtained from transplanted tissues within the ovarian bursa. High levels of cytochrome p450 aromatase and estroqen receptor expression were observed in both the granulosa and the human graafian follicle theca layer developed in tne murine ovarian bursa. These results suggest that these follicles have similar characteristics as the dominant follicles of a normal premenopausal cycling human ovary. Less